Animal-trap.



GQM. C. KIRK.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. o', 1914.

1,107,218, Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

/o Ea' WU: HMM 22 2] BV s ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PErERs co.. PHOTO'L/THO., WASHING TON. D, CA

UNITED sTATEs4 PATENT oEEioE.

Cassius M. o. KIRK, or sourir roivr GEORGE, ianrrisirconunnm, CANADA.

n.NIiunL-Tmir.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 6, 1914. Serial No. 810,642. l

will be automatically released by the ani? mal, to grip the animal.

ln the preferred form of the invention a series of resilient clasps are slidably suspended on a rod; a retainer holds the clasps in the open position, and a step-bystep release means is controlled by movements of a bait holder.

The invention consists in the novel features hereinafter `more Vparticularly described and defined in the claims. I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a trap embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section; Fig. 3 is a front view; Fig. 4 is a separate view of one of the clasps in the closed position; Fig. 5 is a front view of one of the clasps slightly modified, showing the same open; and Fig. 6 is a cross section of the clasp shown in Fig. 5, illustrating the same in a closed position.

In constructing a practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated, a suitablev casing or body 10 is provided, which may be formed with flanges 10a, 10", having holes 10C, whereby to secure the deviceto a tree orl other support. A rod or wire 11 is supported in an suitable manner above'the trap, and pre erably inclined downwardly in a direction toward the front end of the trap. On the wire 11 a clasp or clasps 12 are suspended, there being seven of the same indicated. Ghains 13 strung on the wire are shown as secured by eyes 14 to the respective clasps. Said clasps are open at the bottom, being in the form of a resilient curved bar, and the resiliency tends to close the clasps so that their ends overlap, as indicated in Fig. 4. The several chains may extend through a slot 15 in the top of the trap. In

any event the clasps will be supported in the vertical position with the sides of the clasp adjacent to the side walls of the body 10, at the interior of the latter.

To retain the clasps in the open position, retaining arms 16 are'provided, extending longitudinally at each side of the trap alon thefrespective side .'.trmsofl the clasps. Sai bars 16 may be integral with each other and be joined by a transverse bar v16a suitably secured as byrivets 16b to the backnof the body '10. A step-by-step release means is provided to successively release the respective clasps. The release means consists of push bars 17, disposed respectively along the sides `of the body 10, between the same and the retaining bar 16', so that the forward ends of said push bars will engage the rearmost clasp 12. Ratchetteeth 18 are formed on the push bars 17, and said teeth are adapted to be engaged in succession from the front to the back of the push bars, by pawls 19.

The rear end of each pawl 19 is pivoted to a bait. holder20 of general U-form, the

upper ends of which are pivoted, as at 20a, to the sides of the body 10, and at the lower end said bait holder has a bait-carrying member 20h, to which any suitable bait 22 may be secured by tying, or otherwise. A retractile spring 21 is connected with the bait-holder 20 and with the adjacent wall of the bodyv 10, tending to return the bait holder to the normal position, and offering a resistance to a pull thereon by an animal attacking the bait 22. The push bar 17 is aorded guided movement on the body 10 by any suitable means, here shown as a slot 4and pin connection; thus side rivets 23, 24,

or the like, secure each retaining arm 16 to the case and the forward rivets 24 extend through longitudinal slots 25 in the push bars 17.

By the described construction a forward movement of the bait holder 2O in response to a pull by the animal, will cause the pawls 19 to exert a forward push on the bars 17, and the latter will in turn exert a forward push on the clasps 12, so that the front clasp will be released fromthe retaining arms 16 and be permitted to assume the closed position shown in Fig. 4, Whereby to grip the animal. At the same time the retractile spring 21 acting on the bait holder 20, will cause the pawls 19 to drop behind the next rearmost tooth 18. The same operation will be repeated by successive anirteneeanugni, 19,14..y

'clasp to be drawn downwardly on the rod ll away from the frontof the trap.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the side arms presented by the clasp are plain., so f that the resiliency ofthe clasp is relied upon to prevent its expansion and release by the animal.

In the form shown in -Figs. 5 and 6, however, the clasp. 12a may, in addition to its inherent resiliency,vhave a spring loop 12b from which the clasp arms emanate. Said clasppar'ms are formed adjacent to their free ends with reverse mating ratchet teeth 12, which will engage eachother when the clasp .Y is permitted; to close, whereby the clasp will be locked :in the closed position.

.Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire lto secure by Letters Patent:V 1

1. -In an animal trap, a yresilient clasp to grip the animal, a k,support on which the clasp is slidable, a retainer for the clasp to maintain it in open position, a pusher device to Vrelease the clasp Vfrom the retainer, a feed means to actuate the pusher device, and a bait holder operatively connected with the feed means. f

2. In an animal trap, a plurality of resilient clasps to grip the animal, a retainer Copies of this patent may be` obtained for Ato maintain the clasp in the open position, a

step-by-step releasing means for the clasps, a bait holder, and operative connections between the bait holder and the step-by-step releasing means.

3. In an animal trap, a series of resilient gripping clasps, a rod from which the clasps are suspended and on which they may slide, a retaining means to hold the clasps open, a reciprocating pusher movable to release the clasps in succession from the retaining means, said pusher having ratchet teeth, a pawl engageable with successive ratchet teeth, and a spring-pressed pivoted bait holder connected with said pawl.

4. In an animal trap, a resilient clasp adapted to grip the animal, the clasp presenting side arms having mating ratchet teeth, means for supporting the clasp, a movable bait holder, a retaining means 'for the clasp, and means operated by the bait holder to release the clasp from the retaining means. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CASSIUS M. C. KIRK.

Witnesses:

M. Lno SULLIVAN, M. C. WIGGINS.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

